Topic: Loading a block in the drawing without inserting it

[iliekater]

I know it may sound stupid but I need this in order to load an arrow block which to set it as symbols for dimensions . If that's not possible , is any other way to do this ?

[jbuzbee]

If the block exists in another drawing, say a 'standards' drawing, you can use ObjectDBX to import it.  You could also create it from scratch via code in the drawing.  Which would you like to do?

[CAB]

You can emake a BLOCK, which is then ready to be an INSERT.

Code: [Select]

;;  Example of a Entmake of a Block
;;
(defun makearrow (blockname)
  ;;==============================================
  ;;       Start of Block definition             
  ;;==============================================
  (entmake
    (list '(0 . "BLOCK") '(100 . "AcDbEntity") '(100 . "AcDbBlockBegin")
          (cons 2 blockname)  '(8 . "0")               
          '(70 . 0)                  0= No Attributes, 2= Attributes
          '(10 0.0 0.0 0.0)         
    )
  )
  ;;==============================================

  ;;==============================================
  ;;            Block objects                     
  ;;==============================================
  (entmake '((0 . "SOLID") (8 . "0") (10 66.0 -1.42109e-014 0.0) (11 52.8688 -2.32308 0.0)
             (12 52.8688 2.32308 0.0) (13 52.8688 2.32308 0.0) (39 . 0.0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "LINE") (8 . "0") (10 0.0 0.0 0.0) (11 66.0 -1.42109e-014 0.0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "LINE") (8 . "0") (10 29.1563 -16.9136 0.0) (11 33.0 -7.10543e-015 0.0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "LINE") (8 . "0") (10 23.8848 16.2547 0.0) (11 29.1563 -16.9136 0.0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "LINE") (8 . "0") (10 16.6366 -8.7863 0.0) (11 23.8848 16.2547 0.0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "LINE") (8 . "0") (10 12.1311 8.7863 0.0) (11 16.6366 -8.7863 0.0)))
  ;;==============================================

  ;;==============================================
  ;;     This is the end of block marker         
  ;;==============================================
  (entmake (list '(0 . "ENDBLK") '(100 . "AcDbBlockEnd") '(8 . "0")))
  ;;==============================================
)

[SomeCallMeDave]

What about something like

Code: [Select]

(setq fileName (findfile "YourBlockNameHere"))
(command "insert" FileName break)



[iliekater]

jbuzbee :

You can use ObjectDBX to import it.

What's ObjectDBX ? I couldn't find it in the Help files . Let me Specify here that I am using AutoCAD 2004 .

jbuzbee :

You could also create it from scratch via code in the drawing

No , the symbol sometimes is very complicated . For example one of the symbols is a skull ! Therefor I can't redraw it with code .

CAB : I didn't understand the code . I think you use the entmake to create an entinity of block that will contain some lines . Unfortunatelly I couldn't run it . 

[iliekater]

SomeCallMeDave :

Code: [Select]

(setq fileName (findfile "YourBlockNameHere"))
(command "insert" FileName break)

Wow , it really worked ! Thanks !

But how exactly does the "break" key work ?

[CAB]

You said:

is any other way to do this ?

You can entmake the block needed. All I posted was an example of making a block without inserting it.
It wasn't the block you want because you did not share that with us.
This was just an alternate solution.

[jbuzbee]

ObjectDBX is an undocumented ActiveX library that let's you "open" a drawing with out actuially opening it in the editor and extract data into another drawing.  I use it to import all our standards: blocks, layers, dimstyles, textstyles, annotation tags, etc.  It's very, very handy.

[daron]

Wouldn't it be just as easy to use the design center to update or insert a block without actually inserting it? That functionality exists through DC.

[iliekater]

Daron :

Wouldn't it be just as easy to use the design center to update or insert a block without actually inserting it?

It would be easy but code is much faster !

jbuzbee :

ObjectDBX is an undocumented ActiveX library that let's you "open" a drawing with out actuially opening it in the editor and extract data into another drawing.

Sounds very interesting . Maybe it's a silly question , but where do I find it ? I can load as an ARX ?

CAB :

It wasn't the block you want because you did not share that with us.

Well it smells like powder here , yet I'll add a frase from my initial post :

I need this in order to load an arrow block

[daron]

What I used to do when I wanted a drawing in the DB, but not the drawing space itself is insert it to the center of the screen and erase it, through code of course.

[jbuzbee]

This is my Import Block routine - The majority of the code was originally penned by Tony Tanzillo. (thanks Tony!)

Code: [Select]

;;; ObjectDBX functions
;;;
;;;
(vl-load-com)

;This will load the ObjectDBX activex module
(if (< (atoi (getvar "AcadVer")) 16)
  (cond ((vl-registry-read "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument\\CLSID"))
        ((not (setq dbxserver (findfile "AxDb15.dll")))
         (alert "Error: Can't locate ObjectDBX Library (AxDb15.dll)"))
        (t
         (startapp "regsvr32.exe" (strcat "/s \"" dbxserver "\""))
         (or (vl-registry-read "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument\\CLSID")
             (alert "Error: Failed to register ObjectDBX ActiveX services.")))))

;;;(setq dwgname(findfile "AecLayerStd.dwg"))
;;; Open a dbxDoc ;
;;; use (setq dbxDocument(jb:OpenDbxDocument dwgname)) ;
(defun jb:OpenDbxDocument  (DwgName / app doc dbxopen dbxDoc)
  (setq app (vlax-get-acad-object)
        doc (vla-get-ActiveDocument app))
  (if (/= dwgname (vla-get-fullname doc))
    (progn (cond ((= (substr (getvar "ACADVER") 1 5) "15.06")
                  (setq dbxDoc  (vla-GetInterfaceObject app "ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument")
                        dbxopen (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-open (list dbxDoc DwgName))))
                 (t
                  (setq dbxDoc  (vla-GetInterfaceObject
                                  app
                                  (strcat "ObjectDBX.AxDbDocument." (substr (getvar "acadver") 1 2)))
                        dbxopen (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-open (list dbxDoc DwgName)))))
           (if (vl-catch-all-error-p dbxopen)
             (setq dbxDoc nil))))
  dbxDoc)

;;; (vlax-dump-Object dbxDoc t)
;;; Close dbxDoc
;;; (jb:CloseDbxDocument dbxDocument)
(defun jb:CloseDbxDocument  (dbxdoc)
  (if (= (type dbxDoc) 'VLA-OBJECT)
    (progn (vlax-release-object dbxDoc) (setq dbxDoc nil))))

;;; ;
;;; Import a Block from a DBX Document ;
;;; Arguments: dwg; a valid drawing name and path ;
;;;   block; name of the block to import ;
;;; Return: the block object ;
;;; ;

(defun jb:ImportBlock  (dwg block / dbxDoc bb dbb newblk)
  (if dwg
    (setq dbxDoc (jb:OpenDbxDocument dwg)))
  (if dbxDoc
    (progn (setq bb  (vla-get-blocks dbxDoc)
                 dbb (vla-get-blocks (vla-get-ActiveDocument (vlax-get-acad-object))))
           (if (not
                 (vl-catch-all-error-p (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-item (list bb block))))
             (setq newblk (vl-catch-all-apply
                            'vla-CopyObjects
                            (list dbxDoc
                                  (vlax-safearray-fill
                                    (vlax-make-safearray vlax-vbObject '(0 . 0))
                                    (list (vla-item bb block)))
                                  dbb))))))
  (if dbxdoc
    (jb:closedbxdocument dbxDoc))
  newblk)

;;; ;
;;; Import Multiple Blocks from a DBX Document ;
;;; Arguments: dwg; a valid drawing name and path ;
;;;   listofblocks; list of names to import;
;;; Return: the block object ;
;;; ;


(defun jb:ImportBlocks  (dwg listofblocks / dbxDoc ii bb dbb newblk blockstoImport)
  (if dwg
    (setq dbxDoc (jb:OpenDbxDocument dwg)))
  (if dbxDoc
    (progn (setq bb  (vla-get-blocks dbxDoc)
                 dbb (vla-get-blocks (vla-get-ActiveDocument (vlax-get-acad-object))))
      (foreach i listofblocks
           (if (not
                 (vl-catch-all-error-p (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-item (list bb i))))
    (setq blockstoImport(append blockstoImport(list i)))))
      (if blockstoImport
(foreach ii blockstoImport
             (setq newblk (vl-catch-all-apply
                            'vla-CopyObjects
                            (list dbxDoc
                                  (vlax-safearray-fill
                                    (vlax-make-safearray vlax-vbObject '(0 . 0))
                                    (list (vla-item bb ii)))
                                  dbb)))))))
  (if dbxdoc
    (jb:closedbxdocument dbxDoc))
  (vlax-release-object dbb)
  newblk)
 
;;; ;
;;; Return Block list from a DBX Document ;
;;; Arguments: dwg; a valid drawing name and path ;
;;;   ;
;;; Return: List of strings ;
;;; ;

(defun jb:ReturnDBXBlocks  (dwg / dbxDoc ret)
  (if dwg
    (setq dbxDoc (jb:OpenDbxDocument dwg)))
  (if dbxDoc
    (progn (vlax-for x(vla-get-blocks dbxDoc)
           (if (and(= (vlax-get x 'isxref) 0)
                   (not(vl-string-search(chr 42)(vla-get-name x)))
                      (not(vl-string-search(chr 124)(vla-get-name x))))
                
             (setq ret (append ret(list (vla-get-name x))))))))
  (if dbxdoc
    (jb:closedbxdocument dbxDoc))
  ret)

Notice that this accesses the dbxDocuments "Block" collection.  These functions can be easily modified to access any collection: Layers, Views, etc.  Also remember that ModelSpace and PaperSpace(s) are Blocks.  So you can access graphical data as well.

[T.Willey]

This is my Import Block routine - The majority of the code was originally penned my Tony Tanzillo. (thanks Tony!)
 
<snip>

A little TMI JB.   

[jbuzbee]

oops.  I've been seizing allot today.  time to get off the computer . . ..

[T.Willey]

oops.  I've been seizing allot today.  time to get off the computer . . ..

I hope everything is alright, and it is always a good thing to get off the computer every now and then.

[jbuzbee]

Yea. I'm alright - thanks.  Stress and the monitor (not to mention the stuff used to relieve said stress) is taking a toll.  But - I'm getting close to never needing to be on a computer - ever.  (reason for said stress).

jb

[T.Willey]

Yea. I'm alright - thanks.  Stress and the monitor (not to mention the stuff used to relieve said stress) is taking a toll.  But - I'm getting close to never needing to be on a computer - ever.  (reason for said stress).

jb

I'm sure it will all work out for the best in the end, but until then I hope you can take some time a relax, and forget about the stress.  Good luck to you, and I hope one day to be there (never needing a computer) too.

[CAB]

CAB :

It wasn't the block you want because you did not share that with us.

Well it smells like powder here , yet I'll add a frase from my initial post :

I need this in order to load an arrow block

OK, here is an example. I have a lisp that produces the core code by selecting the block in a drawing.
You then place this code in your ACADdoc.lsp file and when you open a drawing the block is created if
it doesn't exist.
Note, this is just an example, post a drawing with your arrowhead inserted in it & I will give you the code for it.

Code: [Select]

(defun eMakeArchTick ()
  (entmake '((0 . "BLOCK") (100 . "AcDbEntity") (67 . 0) (8 . "0") (100 . "AcDbBlockReference")
  (2 . "_ArchTick") (10 0.0 0.0 0.0) (70 . 0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "LWPOLYLINE") (100 . "AcDbEntity") (67 . 0) (8 . "0") (62 . 0) (100 . "AcDbPolyline")
  (90 . 2) (70 . 0) (43 . 0.15) (38 . 0.0) (39 . 0.0) (10 -0.5 -0.5) (40 . 0.15) (41 . 0.15)
  (42 . 0.0) (10 0.5 0.5) (40 . 0.15) (41 . 0.15) (42 . 0.0)))
  (entmake '((0 . "ENDBLK") (100 . "AcDbBlockEnd") (8 . "0")))
  (princ)
)
(or (tblserch "BLOCK"  "_ArchTick") (eMakeArchTick)) ; make the block

[JohnK]

Object DBX is very cool but also fickle.

That code you posted from Tony worked good, but i have an ``improved'' version i hacked together somewhere in my files. I will see if i can locate it if you would like.

[jbuzbee]

Object DBX is very cool but also fickle.

I havn't had any problems at all.  My programs that use ObjectDBX:

Import Layers


Working States - reads Layer States in an external standards drawing to set active drawings layers


Import Views


Block Manager



Detail Manager


What types of problems have you had?  There are some limitations you have to be aware of.

[JohnK]

no problems, works great, continue on, have fun.

[iliekater]

Daron :

Insert it to the center of the screen and erase it

Yes , you are right . I thought about that back there but forgot to ask . You see inserting a block and erasing it will do the trick , but one cannot erase it by selecting it as the last object because it may not be visible . Therefor , is there a way to get the middle of the current view ?

jbuzbee , let me ask you something : how did you make those wonderful snapshots ? I use the PrintScreen and paste it on the Paint program , but I never manage to select correctly the margins of the dialog boxes ...

[ronjonp]

You could use something like this:

(vla-delete (vlax-ename->vla-object (entlast)))


I'd use CAB's entmake method....

[jbuzbee]

iliekater:

I use photoshop - don't know about paint - but when you start a new file in photoshop it checks the clipboard for a default size . . . paste, done.

[daron]

Daron :

Insert it to the center of the screen and erase it

Therefor , is there a way to get the middle of the current view ?

Insert block with:
(getvar 'viewctr)
and then erase "last" shouldn't give a problem, unless the insertion point and the objects in the block are too far away from each other.

[daron]

iliekater:

I use photoshop - don't know about paint - but when you start a new file in photoshop it checks the clipboard for a default size . . . paste, done.

GIMP's good at that too, if you can't afford PS.

[iliekater]

Yes , Photoshop seems a good idea . First paste the whole picture , use the magic wand and then "select inverse" , cut and paste it on another file (which as jbuzbee said , is initialy made on the dimensions of the picture stored in the clipboard) . Thanks .

I am off to try what you said about erasing the last objects (entinities) .

[MP]

Off topic but in Paint Shop Pro one just pastes to new image. If the original screen capture is via <alt> <prtscn> poof | wallah -- no trimming required.

Of course there's always SnagIt if one's real lazy.